November Action

An update on solidarity action for Irom Sharmila.

A planning meeting was held on 14th October 2009 at SICHREM on Call for action for Manipur

The following programmes were chalked out:
- Invitation to students to show their solidarity with Irom Sharmila through their poetry
- Selected 25 poems will be printed out as a booklet.
- Screening of documentaries on human rights violations in Manipur between 2nd & 5th November 2009. So fare SCM has confirmed with the venue for 2nd & 3rd Nov 2009.

Date 6th November 2009

JN Hospital, Imphal

Two weeks after the release of her sixth book Burning Bright: Irom Sharmila and the Struggle for Peace in Manipur, Dr. Deepti Priya Mehrotra a political scientist, journalist and activist passionately recounted her days with the living legend.

Dr. Merhotra spoke about the private and public struggle of Irom Sharmila at the School of Social Sciences – 1, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on the 26th of September, 2009. The special lecture was organised by Manipur Research Forum.

Irom Sharmila is a "sister and daughter of the world", a peace loving activist and a friend who is now close to her heart. Dr. Mehrotra was one of the many who became a friend of Irom Sharmila while she brought her struggle to Delhi.

She met Sharmila at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi during the winter of 2006-07. Dr. Mehrotra recalls there were a dozen policemen and intelligence personnel guarding the hospital room.

November 5, 2009

• Human Rights Film Festival at Manipur University, organized by INSAF
• Talk/ Lecture by Deepti Priya Mehrotra at Manipur University on Sharmila

NOVEMBER 6, 2009 Hyderabad / INVITE for all interested

• Film Screening in Solidarity with Sharmila - by the Centre for Women's Studies, University of Hyderabad
• Venue: in the Conference Hall, School of Social Sciences
• Time 1.30 pm

NOVEMBER 6, 2009

• Public meeting at Delhi University on AFSPA

The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Nov 2: A statewide capaign on festival of Hope, Justice and Peace organised by the Justice Foundation Manipur in support of the agitation by Irom Chanu Sharmila was inaugurated by Mahosweta Devi, Magsaysay Award winner and Doyen of Indian literature this afternoon at JN Dance Academy, in commemoration of completing nine years fast unto death agitation of Irom Chanu Sharmila demanding the repeal of the AFSPA from the state.

Mahosweta Devi, said the campaign will continue till November 6 in various parts of the state adding it is quite appropriate to call the 21st Century as the Century of Irom Sharmila for her endless courageous stands for the welfare of humanity.

Appreciating the spirits of honest sacrifice made by Sharmila for the welfare and safeguard of the people of the state demanding total repeal of AFSPA, she said Sharmila`s courageous spirits should not be forgotten by the people of the state as well by the country.

INFO from Sushovan - Kolkatta

• November 5, 2009, 12 hour hunger strike ( 6 am - 6 pm) in solidarity with Sharmila Irom in Manipur and other draconian laws in different parts of the country including in West Bengal.
• Venue : Esplanade, opposite Metro Channel.
• November 7, 2009 public convention on AFSPA

Information coming from IMPHAL - Manipur

साथी,
इरोम शर्मिला एक युवा महिला हैं जो पिछले 10 वर्षों से आमरण अनशन पर हैं। उन्हें सरकार ने घर पर ही नजरबंद कर रखा है और जबरन नाक के रास्ते खाना खिलाया जा रहा है। वह सैन्य बल (विशेष अधिकार) अधिनियम 1958 की वापसी की मांग कर रही हैं।
गौरतलब है कि 2 नवम्बर को मणिपुर में सैन्यबल ( विशेष अधिकार) अधिनियम 1958 के विरू़द्ध इरोम शर्मिला अपने आमरण अनशन के दस वर्ष पूरे कर लेंगी। इसमें संदेह नहीं ये वर्ष भारतीय लोकतन्त्र के लिए शर्म में डूबे हुए वर्ष हैं।

Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 01 2009: Irom Sharmila's fasting demanding repeal of the Armed Forces Special Power Act, 1958 has completed nine year Monday.

To mark the day, a week photo exhibition was opened at JN Dance Academy Hall, Imphal today.

The ninth anniversary of the Malom massacre which ten people were gunned down by the Assam Rifles after they were allowed to stand on a line which related with Sharmila's decision of fasting demanding the repeal of the Act was also observed today at Malom where the memorial of the 10 victims erected.

Even though, official announcement of commencement of the fasting was made on November 4, she started the fasting for this day on which the merciless killing shocked her, Singhajit, the elder brother of Sharmila told this correspondent at JN Dance Academy Hall where the photo exhibition depicting to the people under draconian law, AFSPA.

The Just Peace Foundation, Imphal cordially requests your presence at the Festival of Hope, Justice and Peace to be held at Imphal from the 2^nd November 2009 till the 6^th November 2009 as per program below.

Smt. Mahashweta Devi, Ramon Magsaysay Award Winner and doyen of Indian literature shall be Chief Guest at the Inaugural Function at Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA) at 3pm on 2^nd November 2009 and Smt. Yumnam Mangol Devi veteran Meira-Paibi leader shall preside over the function.